The best countries in the world: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
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It’s official: you can’t get enough of Japan. This is the second year in a row that it has taken first place, thanks to a Shibuya Scramble-style, post-pandemic stampede to reach this fascinating country. It scored reassuringly high marks for safety (as did Switzerland, though be careful with that army knife) but, far more importantly, it was your favourite for things to do and see and culture – which covers everything from cherry blossom season to the newly opened Ghibli Park and the coastal Fukui prefecture, now easily accessible by bullet train from Tokyo. It was culture, too, that drew you to Vietnam, Thailand and Costa Rica (and, closer to home, Ireland), while Mexico’s chilli-spiked tamales and tacos gave it high marks for food, which Italy and Thailand also earned.
Getty Images20. Seychelles. Score 88.24
This dazzling archipelago of 115 islands scattered across a region of the Indian Ocean has long been the reserve of honeymooners, to the extent that many prospective travellers spend longer drooling over the idea of escaping to the Seychelles than acting on such dreams. Speak to anyone lucky enough to have spent long afternoons lounging on these exceptional beaches and experiencing some of the best hospitality in the world. They’ll sing the country's praises to no end. Similarly to the Maldives, the hotel often makes or breaks a Seychelles stay. The opening of Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island upped the game yet again, while Cheval Blanc announced plans to open a resort here earlier in 2024 – now that’s one property we can’t wait to hear more about.
Getty Images19. Mexico. Score 88.26
Our guide to North America and Mexico’s hottest new openings earlier this year pushed our wanderlust to new extremes. Recent openings such as The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai and Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, on the Riviera Maya had us planning bucket list escapes that incorporated world-class hospitality and expeditions along each of Mexico’s sun-soaked coasts. Mezcal and tequila are two of the hottest tipples of the moment, with celebrities and entrepreneurs turning their hand to the spirits business in an attempt to capitalise. More importantly, two Mexico City watering holes featured in the top ten of The World’s 50 Best Bars’ 2023 edition. Plan those nightcaps at Licorería Limantour and Handshake Speakeasy ahead of your next mooch around the vibrant city and see how this historic metropolis is honouring old traditions by embracing the new.
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Getty Images18. Ireland. Score 88.27
For American travellers in particular, Ireland has always felt a bit like an old cardigan: cosy, easy, and comfortable – the kind of place you can take multiple generations of family members to trace your genealogical roots or to scope out centuries-old castles and fireplace-warmed pubs. But there’s a decidedly youthful wind whipping across the Emerald Isle. The capital city is emerging as one of Europe’s most forward-thinking tech hubs, nicknamed Silicon Docks for the prevalence of tech giants and startups headquartered along the Grand Canal Dock. This infusion of big thinkers (with big wallets) has blown the dust off the island’s traditionalist culture. Now, in addition to crossing Trinity College’s Long Room off your bucket list, you might also find yourself foraging for nettles and pears with Takingaleaf founder Miceal Murray or sipping whiskey at Teeling, the first new distillery to open within the city in more than 125 years. Beyond the capital, Ireland has remote hotels and Airbnbs that allow you to spend the night everywhere, from an island lighthouse in County May to a Scandi-chic cabin in County Monaghan. And if you’re in the mood for something farther afield, it doesn’t get much more rugged than the Aran Islands, the filming location and inspiration for The Banshees of Inisherin.
Getty Images17. Malta. Score 88.34
The world's tenth-smallest country has a lot going for it right now. While ‘Malta’ technically refers to an archipelago of which three islands, Gozo, Comino and Malta, are inhabited, it’s the latter most travellers flock to in search of scorching summers and mild winters. These islands have long been a favourite of fly-and-flop tourists thanks to its stunning beaches and tepid, crystal-clear waters. Still, it’s becoming increasingly popular as a city break or long weekend destination thanks to developing cultural and foodie scenes. Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) opens in October 2024, the first contemporary art museum on the island set to attract Europe’s sun-loving aesthetes and breathe new life and fresh creative flair down these long-trodden alleys. Then, of course, there are the hottest hotels in Malta for an R&R-filled stay, the latest of which is The Xara Collection’s Palazzino Belvedere, marketed as “the most romantic stay in Europe” – we’ll let the jet-setting lovebirds be the judge of that.
Getty Images16. Australia. Score 88.48
We’ll never stop loving Sydney and Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef, but the overarching theme for Aussie tourism in the past few years has been a resounding: “But there’s so much more out there!” There’s almost a passing of the baton going on among the country’s creative-minded cities: way out west, Perth enjoyed its status as the country’s fast-growing boomtown, followed by Hobart, Tasmania, which welcomed a game-changing art museum and design hotel. Ready for its big close-up is Queensland’s oft-ignored capital city of Brisbane, which is newly accessible thanks to direct routes from the United States and will see such skyline-transforming additions as the Queen’s Wharf entertainment precinct (with a six-star Rosewood) and a $100-million performing arts venue. Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region made our list of the world’s best places to go in 2024, thanks to increased cruise itineraries to the area and the newly launched Aboriginal Cultural Expedition.
Getty Images15. Vietnam. Score 89.11
Vietnam's charming rusticity sets it high on the list of gap-year adventurers year after year. The country welcomed approximately 12.6 million tourists in 2023 – a fraction of Thailand’s 28 million. Still, this figure increases each year as travellers choose to uncover the country’s secrets and experience the towns and cultures mass tourism has yet to encroach on. Vietnam Airlines will become the first and only airline in the country to offer a non-stop service to Italy when it launches thrice-weekly flights between Hanoi and Milan in July 2025, and the country won big at the World Travel Awards 2024, claiming awards including ‘Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination’. In short, this is no longer ‘one to watch’ – it’s one to book.
Getty Images14. Costa Rica. Score 89.23
Costa Rica is an unspoilt, rainforested oasis squeezed between the metropolises of North and South America. There’s a lot to be said for the capital and largest city, San José, from the Museum of Costa Rican Art’s fascinating exhibits to the hustle and bustle of Avenida Central, a mile-long pedestrianised strip of cafés, bars and shops. Global travel network Virtuoso recently highlighted Costa Rica as one of the most popular destinations for winter sun during the festive season, while tour operators and travel companies, including cazenove+loyd and Discover the World, continue to promote new itineraries and portfolios in the country. While it’s a hotspot for eco-retreats, one traveller recently discovered the benefits of attending the world’s first ‘Blue Zone Retreat’ hosted at Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo. This Central American country is finally getting its time in the spotlight.
Getty Images13. Spain. Score 89.34
When the World’s 50 Best Bars list was announced in 2023, the top spot went to an innovative Barcelona cocktail lounge called Sips, and it shared the top five with fellow Barcelona speakeasy Paradiso, which is hidden inside a pastrami shop in the trendy El Born district. If you’ve spent any time in the country, especially after nightfall, you probably already know this obvious fact: the Spanish know how to party, and they love to do it in style, from the sherry and flamenco bars of Andalusia to the beach clubs of bohemian Formentera to the tapas bars of Barcelona. In an ironic twist, some of the country’s most notoriously party-hardy spots are moving in the opposite direction, shedding their reputations for debauchery to become serious cultural hubs. A new generation of creatives in Mallorca, for instance, are getting back to the land, with homey design hotels and natural wineries, while a host of boutique hotels and Michelin-star restaurants in Marbella is enticing visitors to explore beyond the (admittedly gorgeous) beachfront and into the previously underrated Old Town.
Croatia12. Croatia. Score 89.43
The secret’s out: this Balkan country may have been off the beaten path a decade or so ago, but it’s rapidly gaining in popularity, thanks to increased direct flights, an influx of cruises, and especially the popularity of Game of Thrones. Croatia is feeling the growing pains of its success, with spots like Dubrovnik and Split becoming every bit as overtouristed as Venice or Amsterdam, but there are plenty of areas around the country that reward exploration: dining at family-farm restaurants and sampling local olive oil in Istria, zipping around by speedboat off the coastline of Trogir, road-tripping through vineyards and oyster farms on the Dalmatian Coast, or sailing among the restful Kornati Islands, which are dotted with oak forests, centuries-old churches, and fortified villages. The result? What local Dalmatians call fjaka – that sweet feeling of doing absolutely nothing.
Raoul Croes/Unsplash11. Greece. Score 89.45
Greece is attracting record-breaking tourist numbers, and the crystal Aegean waters are beckoning us back to some of your favourite islands in the world: postcard-perfect Santorini, mythology-steeped Mykonos, and massive Crete, with its reemerging viticultural scene. That roster of dreamy islands is ever-expanding, with more and more visitors venturing out to under-the-radar Paros, car-free Hydra, blissfully secluded Zakynthos, beach-filled Ios, and wild, windswept Tinos. And be sure not to ignore Athens. As it rebuilt itself after a paralysing debt crisis, the ancient city leaned into a scrappy, creative energy that has yielded forward-thinking restaurants, avant-garde galleries, and hip hotels that rank Athens among Europe’s unexpectedly coolest capitals. And for those really looking for an adventure – albeit a slow one – consider a journey into Zagorohoria, a collection of 46 traditional stone villages scattered around the Pindus Mountains in Greece’s rugged northwest. Here, you’re likelier to encounter truffle hunters, bubbling hot springs, and monasteries with Orthodox frescoes than sun-seeking partiers.
Getty Images10. Sri Lanka. Score 89.75
This South Asian nation packs a wallop into a single teardrop-shaped island only slightly larger than the state of West Virginia: Think high-elevation tea plantations that are eye-vibratingly green, national parks where sloth bears and endangered elephants roam, and friendly surf towns that, if you squint, might remind you of Costa Rica or Nicaragua some decades years ago. (May we suggest Ahangama, with its indie-music venues, locavore cafés, and eco-boutiques?) And then there’s the capital city of Colombo, where you can shop for local spices, fly kites along the waterfront, or even charter a yacht. As Sri Lanka has worked in recent years to secure its spot as a global tourism contender, it has faced quite a few challenges, from the Easter Sunday bombings to the pandemic. Now, it’s looking to regain the trust of visitors with its trademark hospitality and warm nature – not to mention an ever-expanding roster of new hotels and resorts.
Getty Images9. Canada. Score 89.76
Where else can you combine wolf-spotting under the northern lights and a trip to one of the world’s most majestic waterfalls – stopping off in sparkling metropolises on the way? Okay, such an itinerary would take considerable time and planning, but that’s the beauty of Canada. The second-largest country in the world is a mind-bending mismatch of otherworldly landscapes, from icy mountains to lush forests and lively cities.
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Getty Images8. Portugal. Score 90.19
This Iberian Peninsula country has spent the past decade transforming from a budget-minded underdog destination to a major player that can rival the likes of Spain and Italy. From the start, even as it suffered under a forty-year authoritarian regime and a flailing economy, Portugal was brimming with delights that bordered on sensory overload: the intricate blue-and-white patterns of azulejo tiles, the intoxicating aroma of oven-fresh pastéis de nata, the mournful chords of live fado music, the bracing chill of a crisp vinho verde or the nectary sweetness of a port. With its jaunty yellow trams and hilltop São Jorge Castle, Lisbon is an easy-to-adore starting point for first-timers, but an increasing number of direct flights to Porto are inviting travellers to explore the second city’s contemporary cultural scene and must-try restaurants. And then? Portugal rewards repeat visitors with a choose-your-own-adventure that might include the terraced hillsides of the Douro Valley, the underrated wineries and burgeoning beach towns of the Alentejo region, the surfer havens of the Algarve, and the absurdly scenic hamlets scattered throughout. Now, thanks to new direct flights from the US, even the Hawaii-like volcanic landscapes of the Azores are right at your fingertips.
Getty Images7. Italy. Score 90.21
As Stanley Tucci’s popular CNN travelogue proved, there aren’t enough days in the year to uncover all the dolce vita that Italy has to offer. Beyond the hotspots in Florence, Venice, Milan, and Rome, the country is blessed with seemingly infinite villages and underrated cities to explore and fall in love with. Palermo’s stunningly restored Villa Igiea, for instance, brought the glitterati back to Sicily, which is still riding high off its role in HBO’s The White Lotus, while Bergamo and Brescia – two former rivals who were epicentres of the early pandemic – put aside their differences to jointly hold the title of 2023 Italian Capital of Culture (in 2024, this honour went to Pesaro). Of course, one of Italy’s enduring legacies is its world-renowned cuisine, which the government has officially nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. And you don’t have to look far to see what all the fuss is about: Italy is a food lover’s paradise, where you can immerse yourself in the millennia-old Jewish cuisine of Rome, take part in a transformative cooking class in Tuscany, or try something completely new-to-you (like torta al testo) in landlocked Umbria.
Getty Images6. Maldives. Score 90.43
A lot has changed in this Indian Ocean archipelago in the past 50 years. This scattered pebble-dash of a nation opened up to beach-loving tourists in the early 1970s. Since then, resorts, most of which occupy their own islands, have worked to consistently outdo themselves – and their rival neighbours – with ‘world firsts’ and head-turning improvements. What exactly do you want from your Maldives experience? Dining beside underwater residents in a submerged restaurant? Hurawalhi Maldives. Mornings gliding into the ocean from an in-room waterslide? Soneva Jani. 18,000 bottles of wine? Conrad Maldives Rangali Island – specifically The Wine Cellar. With such a range of experiences, from the sustainable to the indulgent, on offer, it’s no surprise that once travellers fall in love with these islands, they return time and time again.
Getty Images5. New Zealand. Score 90.49
Ever since Peter Jackson cast his home country as Middle-earth in the Lord of the Rings film franchise, visitors have viewed this island nation as a place of almost mythical beauty, from the crystalline mountains lakes and sweeping fjords to misty rainforests and geothermal valleys. Culturally diverse Auckland remains the most popular point of entry for international travellers, but new lodges and trails are making it easier than ever before to venture far out into the country’s vast wilderness. Among the most dazzling openings in recent years is Flockhill Lodge, a 36,000-acre high-country sheep station in the Southern Alps that now doubles as an ultra-luxe retreat, while other properties are finding clever ways to honour the land (such as regenerative farming) and especially the country’s Māori heritage. And for something wildly unique, consider a flight on the world’s first winery airline, Invivo Air, which flies between Auckland and Queenstown and includes an eight-step wine tasting at 18,000 feet.
Getty Images4. France. Score 91.03
All eyes were on Paris this summer as the city hosted the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Following the reconstruction of Notre-Dame and last year's much-publicised battle with bedbugs, the City of Light has embraced the spirit of reinvention. That means playful design hotel openings, Dominique Crenn’s first restaurant in her home country, renewed efforts to clean up the Seine in time for the sporting action, and a slew of French Asian artisans and chefs shaking up the cultural scene. Well beyond the confines of the capital, there are new adventures to discover, from the low-key surf scene in Hossegor to a buzzy African-inspired restaurant in Nîmes to a wave of modernist-tinged openings in the perma-chic French Riviera. And much, much farther afield, the overseas territory of French Polynesia made our list of the 24 best places to go in 2024. The 118-island archipelago, which is reinvesting in its native flora and restoring coral, played host to the Olympic surfing competitions this year.
Getty Images3. Thailand. Score 92.29
Thailand’s enduring appeal is largely thanks to the diversity of its landscapes. Trains, internal flights, boats and overnight buses mean that getting from A to B is considerably easier than in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries – but that’s not to say they’re not catching on… and catching up. Eat your way through Chiang Mai’s delicious night markets before seeing (understanding) what all the fuss is about on Thailand’s beautiful islands. Expect interest to peak following the release of the upcoming series of The White Lotus, which used the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for filming in 2024.
Getty Images2. Switzerland. Score 94.62
Switzerland just misses out on the top spot. This landlocked European country has captured the imaginations and hearts of avid skiers, culture vultures, foodies, and an increasing number of sun-worshippers who look to the lakes for a less-crowded alternative to Como’s shores. From the peaks of the Alps, where opulent ski-in/ski-out chalets peek out of the powdery snow, to the riverside galleries and boutiques of Zurich, there’s something for every type of traveller here, whatever the season. However, the mountains are no longer just for winter sports pros – shorter seasons of guaranteed snow mean it’s becoming quite the ‘in’ place to be spotted, hiking boots on, come summer.
Getty Images1. Japan. Score 95.32
Japan has been dealt a bad hand in recent years, with its turn at the Summer Olympics falling during an international pandemic. And though they were much delayed, the 2021 games reminded viewers worldwide what they loved – and missed – about the island nation: the traditions, the design culture, the futuristic innovation. Now, tourism is booming, and you’ll still find incredible restaurants, ultra-relaxing onsens, Shinto temples, cherry blossoms, and impeccably clean and efficient high-speed trains, which run along some of the most scenic rail routes in the world. But there’s always something new in this whizz-bang nation of the future. A buzzy gin scene? Sure. A hilltop castle from 1599 where you can book overnight stays? Check. Oh yeah, new galleries and exhibits on Naoshima Island, ultra-stylish glamping resorts, and a growing roster of sushi bars helmed by female chefs are still a major rarity in this tradition-bound country. And now there are fantastic excuses to venture far out to the country’s extreme north and south: recent UNESCO World Heritage designees include the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in the north and a chain of islands in the archipelago’s southwestern stretches that are entirely uninhabited by humans and filled with endangered species.